We’ve an option to make Lukas loan deal permanent – Rowett
BIRMINGHAM City have an option to make Lukas Jutkiewicz’s loan deal permanent in January, Gary Rowett has revealed.
The manager spoke of his pleasure at the way Jutkiewicz has settled at St Andrew’s and has played in every game since the striker’s deadline-day move from Burnley.
Jutkiewicz has also ended a 28-month barren run with goals against Sheffield Wednesday and QPR to suggest he is returning to top form after missing nearly all of last season through injury. As things stand, the 27-year-old is scheduled to return to Turf Moor on January 2 – unless a more lasting agreement can be reached.
“We’ve got an option to buy him in January, which has been agreed by both parties,” Rowett said. “Again, that will be if we feel that option is worth taking up around that point. But we can’t do anything until then.
“Of course, as you get closer to the January transfer window you tend to have those conversations with the player and his parent club.”
Rowett admits an extended goalscoring spree might affect the situa- tion – at least in terms wicz’s expectations.
“I think the option would (still) be ours to take up. An option is an option,’’ he said.
“But if Lukas goes and scores 15 goals between now and then, then all he has to do is turn round and say, ‘Actually, I couldn’t really agree that contract, I was looking for 100 grand a week. I think I’ll move on to another option!’
“So, it means very little in some ways. It’s just an opportunity for both clubs because Burnley would get something out of the deal and we would at least have an option to try and make it permanent. of Jutkie-
“But he’s done well so far – and we need him to do well consistently over a long period.
“We’ve said it before about players, after three or four games and then we’re probably saying something different after 20 games.
“But so far he’s been a really strong part of the group and just given us a different type of look as well.
“When Clayton (Donaldson) wasn’t fit previously we really tended to struggle. At the minute, if Clayton is not fit we have full confidence that Jukie can offer something just as good, if not something slightly different.”